Jackie Bradley Jr. drew three walks and scored two runs in his major league debut. / Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul White, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul White, USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK - Jackie Bradley Jr. has this Red Sox-Yankees rivalry figured out.

Boston's wonderboy of spring training didn't get in a hit in his major league debut on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium, but he made his mark with three walks, including one that arguably was the most important plate appearance of the game.

That's no stretch just to extend the story of the unlikely and unexpected Opening Day left fielder.

Boston starting and winning pitcher Jon Lester marveled at the rookie battling back from an 0-2 count to draw a second-inning walk from Yankees ace CC Sabathia. That loaded the bases with one out and triggered a four-run inning that decided Boston's 8-2 victory.

"You have to be impressed with the professional at-bats he puts together," Lester said of the composure that helped Bradley win his roster spot. "And there, especially in this environment against CC."

That's the stuff of Red Sox-Yankees games. This one was a routing 3 hours, 37 minutes, the way it's been for a decade or so as the teams grind out deep counts. Bradley gets it.

"I pride myself in making that pitcher work, seeing a lot of pitches," he said. "I was able to lay off some put-away pitches. I was definitely anxious to swing the bat, but I wanted to make him work a bit."

After Bradley's walk, Jose Iglesias' infield single drove in the game's first run. One out later, Shane Victorino ripped a two-run single and Dustin Pedroia followed with an RBI hit.

But Bradley wasn't done. The Yankees threatened all day and, with two out and a runner on second in the third inning, Robinson Cano lined a ball toward the left-field wall. Bradley went straight back and made the catch over his head on the run.

"I knew it was over my head," Bradley said. "On a play like that, you pick a spot where you think it's going to land and run back to it. I work on that play a lot."

Lester, the beneficiary, appreciated the combination of Bradley's composure at the plate and on the field.

"That was probably a swing of three runs those two innings," Lester said.

Composure was part of what convinced the Red Sox to take a chance on the 22-year-old who hadn't played above Class AA.